Foldable partition



March 25,1958 A 'E, R. HAws v '2,827,957

FOLDABLE PARTITION Filed July 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Shes?I 1 March 25, 1958 E. R. HAws 2,827,957

FOLDABLE PARTITION Filed July 21, 1954 s sheets-sheet 2 Slll Il liz' n 7 5* INVENTOR.

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BY w /Mr fax/v51( March 25, 1958 E. R. HAws 2,827,957

FOLDABLE PARTITION Filed Ju1yv2l, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 v BY f 1 l rfa/wvz/ United.. States Patent FOLDABLE PARTITION Ernest Robert Haws, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Robert Haws Co., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 21, `1954, serial No. 444,715

4 Claims. (cl. 16o- 199) This invention relatesto a .foldingy partition and more" particularly to` a `folding partition comprisingrigidipanel members` hingedly connected to eachiother land movably' suspendedY at their upper ends from an overhead track" but not guided by any track means or the like cooperative `the type in whiehthe with the lower ends thereof. l

,In a folding partition structure of panels are not guided at the lower ends thereof byfajfl track `meansgor the like in the building lioor, itis necessary l to provide a floor seal adapted to close or seal the space"` between` the bottom of each panel andthe oor. The floor seal must be effective to performlat leastA twofunctions. First, the floor seal must act as a sound barrier. Second, the ,floorseal mustv hold the lowerend of each panel `agalllSt, movement such as might be expectedtoff resultfrom the` panel being bumped by persons or objectsa` Preferably, the floor seal should be mounted so that when* each panel is in folded condition `the oor seal is outoflcontact with the floor and remains sov until the panelslarel'f unfolded to Aforni the partition. It is an object `of the present invention-.to provide an improved construction and arrangement of a folding partition structure in which the floor seal between the bottom of each partition panel and the oor is maintained in spaced relation to the floor until all of the panels have been moved from a folded to an unfolded condition,y at which time an improved mechanism may be actuated to vertically shift the panels a suicient distance downwardly to bring the door seal into iirm engagement with the `lioor.

rangement the floor seal does not drag on the oor aslthe 145 In accordance with the improved construction andarpanels are folded and unfolded and thus .are not subject to friction wear.

However, after the panels `havebeen i unfolded, suliicient pressure may be exerted on the oor n seal to rigidly hold the lower end of each panel against inadvertent lateral movement.

Other objects and features of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a` Fig. 4 is a view in part similar to Fig. 3 illustrating part` of the mechanism in a different operative position.

Fig. 5 is a View in part similar to Fig. 2 illustrating second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. `6 is a section taken substantially through line 6--6 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a view'in part similar to Fig. 6 illustrating part v of the mechanism in a second operative position., Y

Fig. 8 is a View in part lsectional taken substantially through the line 8--8 of Fig. 7`looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the Idetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustratedl in the accompanying drawings, since the invention isf capable of other embodiments and of-being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. u

'Referring `to Fig. l there is shown a foldableV partition, generally designated 10,' which comprises a seriesof panels 11 hingedlyiconnected-to veach "other by vertically spaced hingedevices 12.` The'right end panel 13 is only half' as wide 'as the regular panels 11 and is hinged directly to a building wall 14,` The hinge devices 12a holding the right end panel 13 `to the building wall must have provision or 'rnustfbemountedso that the end panel 13 will bepermittedf to" 'riiove vertically relative to thebuilding wall"14, fof a'f'rleason to' be hereinafter explained.

Also, aswill be more-'fully explained, each of the panels '11 is pivotallyfand*individually suspended from a track,

generally designated 15, extending above and acrossthe space betweenfth'e lbuilding walls 14and 16 respectively. -Each panel-11 asfwellas the half f panel 13 comprises ra hollow shell structurehaving thin walls Y17,` the walls being of metal,v wood",` plastic or any, other suitable` material available in sheet form. The space between the walls 17 is adapted to' belleduwith any suitable light weight soundproong material 18. i A

:The overhead `supporting structure'forfthe partition 10 comprises van I-bearn 19, the-ends of which are conventionallyfsupported by the building walls 14 and 16,1respectivelyl Secured T to the underside of the I-beam 19 isa channel shapedmember 20. As best viewed in Fig. 3,

Vthe channel shaped member 20 isafour sided member v vhaving a'centrallyzlocated opening" or slot 21 in the lower horizontal wall 22` thereof. The slot 21 extends substantially the ,length of the channel member 20, the `latter being substantially .equal in "length to Vthe `supporting,

I-beam` 19. The innersurface23 of channel member wall 22.0n each side of the slot 21 therein provides a track for a carriage device, generally designated 24.

The carriage device 24 comprises a bodymember 25 supported at each corner on 'rollers 26. The body member 25 is provided with a vertical bore Z7 at the center thereof, the bore 27 being adapted to bein alignment with the slot `21 in` the channel member 20. Pivotally journalled in the bore 27 is a vertically` extending rod28 provided with a clevis portion 29 at the lower end thereofand provided with threads 30 at the upper end thereof. A Vcompression spring 31 is provided which is seated on the upper surface 32 of the cai'riage body member 25. The compression spring 31 is adapted to engage the underside of a washer 33 surmounted by a nut 34 threaded onto the threads 30 of the rod 28. `The compression spring 31 thus yieldably carries the weight of the rod 28 and the panel structure suspended therebeneath on the carriage device 24. l

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the clevis end 29 of the rod 28 has journalled thereon by means vof a horizontal pin 35, a vertically extendingrod portion 36. 'The rod portion 36 is welded to the upper surface of an inverted U-shaped channel member 37. The depending legs 38 of the channel member 37 tit within the upwardly extending legs 39 of a second U-member 40. The upwardly extending legs 39 of the second U-shaped member 40 are secured to the panel walls 17 in any convenient manner, such as by spot welding or riveting.

The depending legs 38 of the channel member 37 have horizontally extending rivets 41 extending outwardly therefrom, which vrivets project throughvertically extending slots 42 and 43 in the upwardly extending legs 39 PateieaMarl as, rees pending leg 50 of the angle member" ""At the free or swingable end of the bar 65 it is provided with a cam surface 67 adapted to engage the upper surface of the base 44 of the inverted ,U-shaped channel member 37 iny the same manner such surface was engaged by the eccentrically mounted roller 52.

Intermediate the ends thereof the bar 65 is provided with a spacer or boss 68 having a pin 69; secured therein. The pin 69 is adaptedto be connected to the link 53 in the same manner as the pivot pin 54 carried by the roller.

The operation of the pressure device `64is substantially the same as the operation of the pressure rollers of the previous embodiment.

In Figs. and 6, the bar 65 is shown in inoperative position. Movement of the link 53 to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 will cause the bar 65 to be swung downwardly about its pivot stud 66 into engagement with the upper surface of the base 44 of the inverted U-shaped channel member 37 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. As soon as the bar 65 begins to exert downward pressure the result is exactly the same as occurs when the eccentrically rotatable roller 52 begins to exert downward pressure. That is, the panels 11 are urged downwardly thereby compressing the floor seal 47 into tight engagement with the oor 48.

Reference to the Hoor seal 47 has only been in general terms. A preferred form of the floor seal is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The lower end of the panel 11 is preferably provided with a recessed bottom plate 70 having a mounting plate 71 secured thereto. The mounting plate 71 is adapted to receive spaced shoulder studs 72 which carry a longitudinally extending member 73. The longitudinally extending member 73 which is substantially equal in length to the panel 11 is yieldingly maintained in spaced relation to the mounting plate 71 by compression springs 74 surrounding the shoulder studs 72. To complete the floor seal, a half round strip of rubber 75 is provided which is centrally located and projects below the lower surface of member 73 in position to engage the oor surface 48.

Thus, with the preferred form of floor seal 47 mounted on the lower end of the panel, sufficient vertical movement of the related parts is provided to ensure a tight engagement of the oor seal with the floor 48. As the panels are forced downwardly by the pressure devices, i. e., the rollers 52 or the members 65, the rubber strip 75 will come in contact with the floor 48. The member 73 will be forced upwardly causing compression of the springs 74. Should the panels 11 be still under downward pressure when the limit of upward movement of the rubber strip mounting member 73 is reached, the telescopic construction and arrangement of the upper end of each panel 11 will prevent damage to the panels.

It will be obvious that the foregoing construction, re-

gardless of which embodiment of the pressure means is used, has several important advantages. The oor seal 47 is not subject to excessive wear as the partition panels are folded and unfolded since the floor seal is out of contact with the floor during movement of the panels 11 across the room. However, when it is desired to compress the oor seal 47, the actuating mechanism provides a device having a high mechanical advantage for exerting downward pressure on the panels 11. Despite the mechanical force available, the telescopic construction and arrangement of the panels 11 prevents any damage to the panels. The various springs, such as the springs 74 yieldably urging the rubber strips 75 downwardly permit compensation for any high or low spots in the oor 48. The result is a tight seal between the lower end of each panel and the oor 48.

I claim:

1. A folding partition structure comprising, in combination, an overhead track, a carriage device movable along said track, a partition panel, suspension means supsans porting said `partition panel below said carriage device formovement therewith and relatively thereto, said suspension means comprising shaft means swivelly and slidablyjournaled on said carriage means and a resilient means between said carriage means and a part of said shaft means yieldingly supporting the latter against downward movement, said shaft means being secured to a member yieldingly telescopically connected to the upper end of said partition panel, and pressure means suspended from said overhead means actuatable to engage said member to urge the `same and said shaft means downwardly against the resistance of said resilient means to shift said panel downwardly, said panel upon engagement with a floor therebeneath causing the upper end of said panel and said member to be telescoped relative to one another.

2. A folding partition structure comprising, in combination, an overhead track, a carriage device movable along said track, a partition panel, suspension means supporting said partition panel below said carriage device for movement therewith and relatively thereto, said suspension means comprising shaft means swivelly and slidably journaled on said carriage means, and a iirst resilient means between said carriage means and a part of said shaft means yieldingly supporting the latter against downward movement, said shaft means being secured to a member telescopically connected to the upper end of said partition panel, and a second resilient means interposed between said member and a part of said panel, and pressure means suspended from said overhead means actuatable to engage said member to urge the same and said shaft means downwardly against the resistance of said first resilient means to shift said panel downwardly, said panel upon engagement with a floor therebeneath causing said second resilient means to be compressed and the upper end of said panel and said member to be telescoped relative to one another.

3. A folding partition structure comprising, in combination, an overhead track, a carriage device movable along said track, a partition panel, suspension means supporting said partition panel below said carriage device for movement therewith and relatively thereto, said suspension means comprising shaft means swivelly and slidably journaled on said carriage means, the upper end of said shaft means extending above said carriage means, a first resilient means between said carriage means and said shaft means upper end yieldingly supporting said shaft means against downward movement, the lower end of said shaft means being secured to a member telescopically connected to the upper end of said partition panel, and a second resilient means interposed between said member and a part of said panel, and pressure means suspended from said overhead means actuatable to engage said member to urge the same and said shaft means downwardly against the resistance of said first resilient means to shift said panel downwardly, said panel upon engagement with a floor therebeneath causing said second resilient means to be compressed and the upper end of said panel and said member to be telescoped relative to one another.

4. A folding partition structure comprising, in combination, an overhead track, a carriage device movable along said track, a partition panel, suspension means supporting said partition panel below said carriage device for movement therewith and relatively thereto, said suspension means comprising shaft means swivelly and slidably journaled on said carriage means, a first spring means between said carriage means and said shaft means upper end yieldingly supporting said shaft means against downward movement, said panel being provided with an upwardly opening recessed portion at the upper end thereof, the lower end of said shaft means being secured to a member substantially contained within said recessed portion,

15 pin and slot means connecting said member to the walls esem? of said recessed portion whereby said panel andomember aemovable relative go one another, a y seond springmeans interposed between said member and a par: ofs'ai'd panef, and pressure means suspended from said'overheadi means actuatable to engage said member to urge the same 5 and' said shaft means downwardly against-the resistance of said rst resilient means to shiftI said panel downwardIy, said panel upon engagemen with a oortherebeneath causing said second resilient means torbecom pressed and the upper end oi said panel and said member 1 to move relative to one another,l

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